If anyone who reads this has any suggestions relative to solving what I see as a problem, please let me know.   Problem:  convincing other music producers that the increased investment necessary to produce a quality product is worth it.  this creates problem #2:  getting the producers to recognize that they just might not be putting out a quality product.  and problem #3: getting them to recognize the difference.

I think we are back to the "ugly baby syndrome" .   In other words every producer thinks his music is wonderful simply because he produced it.  when a song is mixed it is a little (very little) like having a baby but it is one that can be edited.  It is very easy to immediately become enamored with it even though it might be somewhat ugly.  We forget that we can edit it.  I oft times wonder if the reason that produces do not make improvements in a piece of music is because it 1) costs more money  2)  they don't know how or 3) they do not recognize the need.  Normally the money issue is small because an adjusted mix is sometimes all that is needed.  I think most producers would welcome help  if offered except for the fact that they most times don't see the need.

This sounds ego driven but it's actually not.   Most of the label send me comp copies of their music which I deeply appreciate and I try to use them all.   Some, however, are not useable for a variety of reasons, mostly in quality and/or arranging.  It is almost Never due to bad music.  That kind of narrows down the source of the problem.  There are, as a rule, multiple ways to arrange a given song but only one correct one.  If the producer make a good arrangement, the musicians can almost always pull it off,.  

I find myself using 98% of the music for my dances from1 to 3 labels.  Reasons are these:

1.    Arrangement is bad

2.    Sounds nothing like the original

3.    Not danceable  (the rhythm track should be decided by the producer)

Sometimes, I have actually take a piece of music and, using my software, rearranged it to a useable form.

I told a producer about doing this once and he has not spoken to me since so I won't be doing that anymore.  It is easier to just record it again on my own label.

Oh well,   Perhaps, I am wrong  Could be, but don't think so.

 I am in a real quandary...What to do with my Rhythm Exclusive Program.   I am not even breaking even but I don't want to stop making quality square dance music. The callers, of course, want to pick an choose the one or two songs they want and leave the rest. Whether or not I lose money is of no concern to them, nor should it be. Unfortunately it does have to concern me.

This was the reason that I started the program originally... to try and at least break even.  It was named "Exclusive" because it was originally designed for callers who wanted all the Rhythm music, no matter the song.  I somehow got talked out of that premise but I think it is time to go back to it.  If I am going to lose money, it will be while providing quality music to those callers who have supported me these past 45 years.  If it gets too expensive,  I will simply have to stop providing music for this activity.  I am unsure if a great many of the callers can tell the difference anyway!

I think it is time to make the music available in the package only with no single being offered, ever!  Those who genuinely appreciate good music will continue to purchase the package, and those who do not just won't.  And that is OK!  Every store cannot be a Neiman-Marcus and every automobile cannot be a Rolls-Royce. There must be a Walmart and a Toyota. I simply choose Neiman's and the Rolls.

I think it is time to make a new flyer.